[cake_crumb]

"Iraq is not going to invade Jordan and Israel because they can't move mechanized infantry across the open desert with the US and Israeli air forces attacking them from the air. Their tanks would be turned into smoking wrecks just as in the first Gulf War."

...Which is exactly why Saddam paid China to upgrade the range and targeting of his scuds - in violation of several treaties, I might add. Also, you are describing conventional war. Saddam is insane, not stupid. He's capable of learning from past mistakes. He is obviously building up his stockpile of unconventional weapons in preparation for an unconventional war.

[Fitzcarraldo]

We should have nuked Baghdad within one week after 911.
Now half the world is making kissy-face with them and we will be the outlaws if we so much as muss Sadaam's hair.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Saddam is insane, not stupid. He's capable of learning from past mistakes. He is obviously building up his stockpile of unconventional weapons in preparation for an unconventional war.

Yes. Whether he strikes first or he goes out in a "blaze of glory", he is preparing to use the only tactic that has a chance of succeeding. He has so much as said this in the past, that he will inflict enormous pain on his attacker (even if he is himself destroyed in the process). You are right he is insane, and GW is right that his fingers must be removed from the levers of power and destruction.